232 ACCIDENTAL VARIETIES. 



Snipe, as it belongs not only to the Faunas of almost 

 all European countries, but to many of Asia and Africa. 



This bird measures from ten to eleven inches in length, 

 and from tip to tip of wing seventeen to nineteen inches ; 

 the bill alone is near three inches long — longer, in short, 

 than that of the Solitary Snipe, which bird, as shown, is 

 of considerably greater size. It weighs about four ounces. 

 According to Nilsson, the female in somewhat larger than 

 flae male; but Kjserbolling tells us the reverse; so, as doctors 

 differ, the reader must decide the matter for himself. 

 The flight of this bird is very rapid, usually zigzag, 

 and against the wind. Commonly its katsch ! katscli ! 

 is heard on its rising from the ground, and generally it 

 flies to a considerable distance before again alighting. 



Accidental varieties of the Common Snipe are occa- 

 sionally met with. We read of individuals wholly white, 

 or white with rusty-red streaks, and of others more or less 

 marked with white. 



The learned in Germany appear to believe in the 

 existence of a second species of the Common Snipe, to 

 which they have given the name of »S'. Brehmii. In 

 regard to size and colour, this bird is described as bearing 

 nearly a perfect resemblance to the S. GalUnacjo, the 

 only material difference being, that whereas the Common 

 Snipe has only fourteen tail-feathers, the S. Brehmii 

 numbers sixteen. Swedish naturalists, however, think it 

 probable that the newly-discovered species is a mere variety 

 of the S. GaUinago, 



Wet and marshy grounds are the favourite resorts of 

 the Common Snipe. One oftentimes meets with this 

 bird, it is true, amongst dry heather, or the like, or it may 

 be in stubble fields ; but this I take to be the exception 

 and not the rule. 



Its food consists of worms, insects, larva?, and mollusks. 

 Digested grass and other vegetable matter have occasionally 



